Zotero

by Corporation for Digital Scholarship · Notes & study

Open sourceWindowsMacLinux

Free reference manager that collects sources and builds citations.

Official download from zotero.org (opens in a new tab)

Opens zotero.org, Corporation for Digital Scholarship's own site. No mirror, no bundle.

Overview

What is Zotero?

Zotero saves papers and web pages with one click, stores PDFs, and inserts citations and bibliographies into Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs in thousands of styles.

Key features

  • One-click saving from the browser
  • PDF reader with annotations
  • Citations in Word and Google Docs
  • Thousands of citation styles

Best for

  • Students writing theses
  • Researchers managing papers
  • Anyone citing sources

Included in starter kits

Install

How to install Zotero

  1. 1Open the official Zotero download page on zotero.org.
  2. 2Pick the build for your system (Windows, Mac, Linux; check x64, ARM or Apple silicon where offered).
  3. 3Run the installer and read each screen; decline anything you did not ask for.
  4. 4Keep it updated from the app's own updater or your package manager.

Install from the command line

  • Windows · winget

    winget install --id DigitalScholar.Zotero -e --source winget

  • Mac · Homebrew

    brew install --cask zotero

  • Linux · Flatpak (Flathub)

    flatpak install flathub org.zotero.Zotero

Package IDs checked against the public winget, Homebrew and Flathub repositories on 1 Nov 2026. Build a script for several apps.

Safety

Download Zotero safely

  • Check the domain

    The real download lives on zotero.org. Look-alike domains and search ads are the most common trap.

  • Skip mirrors

    Download portals can wrap installers in adware or old versions. You never need them for this app.

  • Verify if you can

    If the publisher lists a checksum, compare it with our in-browser checker before running the file.

  • Watch the installer

    Untick extras, browser changes or trials you did not ask for.

Open the checksum checker

Alternatives

Zotero alternatives

Other notes & study apps, closest platform match first.

All notes

FAQ

Zotero questions

Where can I download Zotero safely?

Download Zotero only from Corporation for Digital Scholarship's official site at zotero.org. Avoid mirror and "download portal" sites, which can bundle extra software with the installer.

Is Zotero free?

Yes. Zotero is open-source software and free to use.

Does Zotero work on Windows, Mac and Linux?

Zotero is available for Windows, Mac, Linux. Check Corporation for Digital Scholarship's download page for exact system requirements and whether your processor (x64, ARM or Apple silicon) is supported.

Can I install Zotero from the command line?

Yes, with winget on Windows (winget install --id DigitalScholar.Zotero -e); Homebrew on Mac (brew install --cask zotero); Flatpak on Linux (flatpak install flathub org.zotero.Zotero). Package managers fetch the publisher's files and make updates easy.

What are good alternatives to Zotero?

See the alternatives section on this page and the full notes & study list on AltFTool, which shows each app's licence and platforms side by side.